Comprehensively Updated KTM 125 Duke and 250 Duke Spotted Testing

Both models to get revised engine, chassis, and design

The three certainties of life are death, taxes, and KTM being hard at work developing new Dukes. Having recently sold out the unhinged 1290 Super Duke RR, the Mattighofen manufacturer has now been spotted testing an updated 125 Duke and 250 Duke.

If you think these are just sticker jobs, think again. Both bikes seem to be pretty much all-new. The engines, frames, sub-frames, swingarms, and designs on these test mules bear little to no resemblance to the current eighth-litre and quarter-litre Dukes.

The 125 Duke sports a slightly revised main frame, a more seriously redesigned sub-frame, and an all-new top-braced swingarm. Engine covers also look distinctly different from those of the present model, indicating changes in the powertrain department too. Unfortunately, this test bike features very little in the way of bodywork, but expect a thorough redesign to go with this significant mechanical update.

The 250 Duke’s test mule does wear its new clothing, showing off its sharp new tank extensions. Once again, the engine covers sport a new look, and the main frame seems to have been tweaked. The sub-frame is now no longer a trellis unit, instead, going for the composite design recently seen on the 1290 Super Duke RR.

Like its smaller sibling, the 250 Duke features an all-new swingarm, but this one goes so far as to implement a side-mounted shock! Wheels and brakes also feature updates in line with what we’ve seen on the yet-to-be-unveiled 2021 RC 390. Interestingly, all the exhaust hardware has been crammed into the belly of the bike, which should help give it a cleaner overall look.

With the updated RCs on the way, a new 390 Duke in the works, the 490 twins brewing, and now these little Dukes being overhauled, KTM is going to be throwing a lot of stuff at us over the next 12 to 18 months. Watch this space…

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